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6 Reasons Feeding Pets Meat Is Worth Rethinking 1) Land use Feeding a 20 kg dog a beef-based diet for nine years requires land equivalent to 57 football fields, compared to 1.4 fields for a plant-based diet — a difference of roughly: 90% the size of the Disneyland Park 2.5× the footprint of the Pentagon 240 Olympic swimming pools If all cats switched to nutritionally complete vegan diets, the land saved could feed ~70 million people. For vegan dogs, land saved would be larger than Mexico or Saudi Arabia, feeding ~450 million people — equivalent to the entire EU population. 2) Environmental impact Cats on vegan diets could cut emissions beyond New Zealand’s national total. Dogs could save more than the UK’s annual emissions. Animal-based pet foods also contribute heavily to environmental damage in other areas. Gregory S. Okin, Professor at UCLA, notes: “Through their diet, [dogs and cats in the US] account for about 25–30% of the environmental impacts from animal production — including land, water, fossil fuels, phosphate, and biocides.” 3) Impact on farmed animals Globally, dogs consume ~8% of farmed animals, cats ~1.2%. In the U.S., cats and dogs consume one-fifth of all farmed animals. Switching to vegan pet foods could spare roughly 6.9 billion farmed land animals annualy, along with billions of fish. Over a lifetime, the average pet dog consumes 252 chickens, 4 pigs, 1 cow, and thousands of fish, nearly all of which endure intense suffering. 4) Pet health Meat-based diets can carry parasites, toxins, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, hormones, heavy metals, or nutritional imbalances. A 2024 study of 2,500+ dogs found that vegan diets resulted in: 48% lower odds of being considered unwell 36% lower odds of needing multiple veterinary visits 50% lower odds of requiring medication 40% lower odds of being rated severely ill Vegan-fed dogs showed lower risk of common conditions: weight issues, ear disorders, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and liver problems (50–61% risk reduction). Owners reported additional improvements: shinier coats (34–37%), more energy (20%), better odor (31%), improved dental health (19%), less bad-smelling breath (21%), and fewer skin problems (26%). A study involving over 1,400 cats found that cats on plant-based diets also tend to be healthier. Based on the available research, Professor Andrew Knight concludes: “health outcomes [of plant-based diets] for both dogs and cats are as good or better.” Since cats have unique nutritional needs, it’s important to take care when planning their diet (see next section ‘Nutrition’). 5) Nutrition Many “complete” meat-based pet foods fail to provide all essential nutrients. A UK study found 79% were deficient in required minerals or trace elements, and some contained excessive nutrients. Plant-based formulations are specifically designed to provide all essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, often with more transparent labeling. Note: While dogs are biologically omnivores and can adapt to plant-based diets more easily, cats require extra care. Any dietary changes for cats should be supervised by a vet — ideally one experienced in balanced plant-based nutrition. If a vet rejects the idea of transitioning to a plant-based diet, it’s important to know that experts and pet food associations confirm that cats can thrive and tend to be healthier on such diets. 6) “Natural” pet food is a myth Conventional meat-based pet foods contain meats that dogs or cats would never encounter in the wild, such as cows, pigs, or ocean fish. Ingredients can include: rendered bones, blood, slaughterhouse leftovers Rancid fats, which can contribute to free radical damage linked to cancer “4D meat” from animals that were already Dead, Diseased, dying, or Disabled before slaughter — legal in pet food but banned for human consumption Critics note that pet food labels that contain meat from diseased animals “look exactly the same as pet food labels that contain human-grade/quality meats” — and warn that low price tags are “almost a guarantee” that pet foods include low-quality 4D meats.